Jazz Is Dead

Jeff was invited to join the improvisational interpretive jamband "Jazz Is Dead" shortly after his spring 2000 tour with Phil Lesh and Friends. At that time the ensemble featured T Lavitz & Rod Morgenstein on keys and drums (formerly of the Dixie Dregs) and Alphonso Johnson on bass (formerly of Weather Report). This was a mind blowing experience for Jeff to be featured on stage with so many of his musical heros. Over the years Jeff toured with Jazz Is Dead in various combinations.

The 2002 JID line up featured Jeff along with Billy Cobham on drums, Little Feat bassist, Kenny Gradney on bass and keyboardist, T Lavitz.

In 2005 Jeff decided to take T Lavitz, Rod Morgenstein and bassist, Dave Livolsi into the Tapeworks recording studio in Hartford, CT to record these beautiful arrangements which were part of a JID tour in celebration of the Dead’s American Beauty release. As the project developed, Jeff decided to invite some other very special guests to the project, including Alphonso Johnson, Jerry Goodman (Mahavishu Orchestra), Bill Evans (Miles Davis), Luis Conte (Phil Collins), Howard Levy (Bela Fleck) and Bill Holloman (Danny Gatton Band). For more info here on the 2015 CD "Grateful Jazz"

In 2015 Jazz Is Dead returned from a 10-year hiatus to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Grateful Dead featuring Jeff, Alphonso Johnson and Rod Morgenstein along with Jefferson Starship keyboardist, Chris Smith and Grateful Dead keyboardist, Tom Constanten.

This 2015 tour was also promoting Jazz Is Dead’s newest release, "Grateful Jazz" featuring amazing performances from our dear friend, T Lavitz, who tragically passed away in 2010. “I am incredibly proud of this project that captures a very important part of my history with this ensemble and this iconic music. We miss T Lavitz very much but his music lives on and he was very proud of this project”, Jeff said.